Multan: It seemed that Pakistan had lost its way. Enter Khushdil Shah.
Stuck with three sixes in consecutive balls, the weak left-handed batsman turned the opening ODI of the three-match series against West Indies into a packed Multan Cricket Stadium on Thursday morning.
West Indies looked to have tightened the noose around Pakistan in their chase of 306 when century-scorers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were dismissed in quick succession.
With the asking rate rising, Khushdil knew something had to be done and Romario Shepherd was taken to the cleaners in the 47th over. The first six went to mid-wicket, the second went straight to the ground, before the third went to long-on.
After opening the over at 44 for 24, Khushdil’s hitting got him 24 off 18.
But there was still some drama in store. Shadab Khan departs in the next over. However, the merciless Khushdil took Pakistan over the line in a tense climax as Pakistan won another six in the final over with a five-wicket haul before Mohammad Nawaz scored the winning run, Jaden Seals off the second ball of the last over. Hit six. ,
Khushdil’s unbeaten 41 off 23 balls added to Babar’s 103, Rizwan’s 59 and opener Imam-ul-Haq’s 65 with a 103 between Imam and Babar and a 108-run stand between Babar and Rizwan for the late heroes. set the stage for
The focus was on the scorching heat in Multan prior to the match and the match featured several water breaks to keep the players hydrated, and ensure there was incredible action.
After West Indies elected to bat, opener Shai Hope scored a brilliant century as he posted a score of 305-8.
Pakistan got an ideal start when Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Kyle Myers but Hope (127) and Shamar Brooks (70) scored 154 runs to put West Indies on the path of big scores.
Pakistan made a late comeback, with pacer Haris Rauf taking four wickets, but cameos from Rovman Powell (32) and Shepherd (25) took the tourists past the 300-mark.
Pakistan lost opener Fakhar Zaman early but Babar and Imam, who hit nine fours, stabilized the innings. After Imam fell, Rizwan ensured that Pakistan kept up with the run rate.
score board
West Indies:
s. Hope b Harris 127
Self. C&B Mayors Shaheen Shah Afridi
s. Brooksc Shadab b Nawaz 70
N. Pooran c Khushdil b Haris 21
B King C And B Shadab 4
R Powell c M. Haris b Shaheen 32
R Shepherd c Nawaz b Haris 25
A. Hossein C. Hasan B. Haris 8
a. Joseph not out 1
H. Walsh not out 2
Extra (B-5, LB-2, W-5) 12
Total (for eight wickets, 50 overs) 305
Did not bat: Jaden Seals
Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Meyers), 2-163 (Brooks), 3-198 (Pooran), 4-216 (Raja), 5-243 (Hope), 6-284 (Powell), 7-302 ( Shepherd), 8-302 (Hossin)
BOWLING: Shaheen 10-1-55-2, Hasan 10-0-68-0, Haris 10-0-77-4, Nawaz 10-0-61-1, Shadab 10-0-37-1
Pakistan:
Fakhar Zaman c Brooks b Seals 11
Imam-ul-Haq c Seals b Hossein 65
Babar Azam c Meyers b Joseph 103
Mohammad Rizwanc Pooran b Shepherd 59
Khushdil Shah not out 41
Shadab Khan c Pooran b Joseph 6
Mohammad Nawaz not out 8
Additional (W-13) 13
Total (for five wickets; in 49.2 overs) 306
Did not bat: Mohammad Haris, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-26 (Fakhar), 2-129 (Imam), 3-237 (Babar), 4-256 (Rizwan), 5-284 (Shadab) BOWLING: Seales 9.2-1-53 -1, Shepherd 9-0-70-1, Joseph 10-0-55-2, Mayers 6-0-50-1, Hosein 10-0-50-1, Walsh 5-0-39-0
Published in Dawn, June 9, 2022